Container



June 30, 1964 J. J. DORFMAN CONTAINER Filed April 17, 1961 FIG.2

JNVENTOR.

Jerome J. Dorfman www ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,139,227CONTAINER Jerome J. Dorfman, 601 39th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Apr. 17,1961, Ser. No. 103,478 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention relates toa container, and more particularly concerns a container having a exibleinner bag disposed within Aand supported by a relatively rigid outercarton.

It has been proposed to package and store fluid, semifluid and -freelyflowing materials inV thin walled, flexible bags, which in turn aredisposed within cartons formed of cardboard, corrugated board or thelike. Such bags are usually formed of thin plastic films and include acombination filling and dispensing spout in relatively narrow, elongatedform. Since the bag is not positively anchored to its carton, there maybe a tendency .for the bag to shift within-the carton as the same istransported and handled. Accordingly, the spout portion of the bag mayshift relative to its initial position within the carton.

Such shift in position of the spout Vnecessitates the complete openingof the closure flaps of the carton in order to make the spout accessiblefor dispensing the contents of the bag. Also, the movement ofthe bagrelative to the carton may be such as to leave the spout in aninaccessible position even after the carton flaps are completely opened.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a container ofthe character described, which includes improved means for anchoring thespout portion of the bag to its initial position and thereby renderingsuch spout portion readily accessible Vfor dispensing the contents ofthe bag.

Another object of this invention is `to provide a conltainer of thevcharacter described, wherein access to the spout of the bag Ymay-begained without completely opening the closure flaps ofthe carton.`

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination cartonand flexible bag having a spout portion; the closure aps of the carltonbeing modified to provide means for anchoring the spout portion of thebag and to make the same readily accessible and movable to a dispensingposition.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carton andassociated flexible bag having a filling and dispensing spout, whereinthe inner closure flap of the carton includes means for anchoring thebag spout and the outer closure flap of the carton includes means forgaining access to the spout anchoring means while leaving the inner andouter closure flaps in their closed position.

3,139,227 Patented June 30, 1964 ICC by a transverse seam. As bag 11 isusually formed of a thermoplastic sheeting or thermoplastic-coatedsheeting, such seams and seals may be formed by hot seaming and sealingtools known in the art.

Bag 11 is disposed within Vand supported by ya carton 13, such as shownin FIG. 2; such carton being formed of substantially rigid materialssuch as cardboard, corrugated board or the like. Carton 13 comprises abottom wall portion 13A; side walls 14, 15, end walls 16,` 17; a pair ofinner closure aps 18, 1'9`hinged along edges 18A, 19A respectively tothe top edges of side walls 14, 15 .respectively; and a pair ofouterclosure flapsV 20, .21 hinged along edges A, 21A respectively tothe top .edges of end walls 16, 17 respectively. l

Inner closure aps 18, 19 have outer edges 22,*23 respectively, whichedges are in substantially abutting relation when aps 18, 19 are intheir closed position. vFlaps Other objects of this invention will inpart be obvious v and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the bag portion ofthe container embodying the invention; l

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton portion theref of, with theclosure flaps in their open positions;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carton with the inner closure aps intheir closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, and showing both the innerand outer closure flaps in their closed position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Y carton, asadjacent the intersection of `carton walls 15,

1'6. After filling bag sealed at 12A.

Means is provided for anchoring spout vportion 12 in 11, spout portion12 is transversely its initial position, to avoid' undue displacementthereof` during transportation and handling operations. To this end,inner ap 19 is formed to provide a section 30 which may be displacedrelative to the flap proper. `Section 30 is .of rectangular shape and isrefined by perforation lines 31, 32 extending from edges 19A and 2-5respectively. Section 30 may 'thus be pressed out of 'the plane of flap19 but will remain hingedly connected to wall 15 along hinge line 19B.

Flap section 30 is formed with a pair of parallel slits 33, 34 extendingfrom edge 25 towards but short of perforation line 31. The upstandingspout portion 12 is adapted to be threaded through slits 33, 34 of flapsection 30 to secure the same in place, as shown in FIG. 5, the terminalend of the spout portion being disposed beneath the flap. Thus, thespout portion 12 is frictionally gripped in fiap section 30 andsupplemental seals are provided for the spout portion along slits 33,34.

After the inner flaps 18, 19 are turned inwardly and downwardly to theirclosed position, the outer flaps 20, 21 are moved to their closedposition, bringing the same in superposed relation to the inner flaps18, 19 and are secured thereto by glue, staples, or the like, in amanner known in the art.

Outer closure flap 20 is formed to provide a rectangular shaped,displaceable access section 36 which is defined by perforation lines 37,38 extending from edges 28, 20A respectively. Section 36 is hinged tocarton wall 16 along edge 20B. When the closure flaps of carton 13 arein their closed position, access section 36 overlies anchor section 30.

To gain access to the spout portion 12 without opening the closure iaps18, 19; and 20, 21; access section 36 of outer flap 20 is displaced fromthe ap by pressing or pulling the same, which action is facilitated by afinger opening l39 formed in the line 37 of perforations. Thus, accesssection 36 may be displaced outwardly of flap 20 along hinge line 20B toexpose anchor section 30, which in turn is also displaced from its flap19; displacement being facilitated by a linger opening 35 formed inperforation line 32.

With anchor section 36 raised along hinge line 19B,

the spout portion 12 may be disengagedv from the section 36 and raisedto an upright dispensing position. The upper end of spout portion 12 isthen cut transversely to allow the contents of bag 11 to be dispensedtherefrom. It will be apparent-that the spout 'portion 12 is kept in itsinitial position relative to` the closure aps and will not be displacedtherefrom, notwithstanding any movement of the bag 11 proper relative tocarton 13. Furthermore, it is not necessary, to completely open theclosure aps in order to gain access to said lspout portion, since thesections 36 and 31) are'quickly and easily displaced from theirrespective closure flaps to make spout portion 12 quickly accessible.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the inventionherein shown without departing from the spirit thereof,A it isunderstood that all matter described or shown herein shall be deemedillustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having Ithus disclosed my invention, I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent: 1. A container comprising a one piece cartonhaving opposed sidewalls and opposed end Walls with closure flapsrespectively extending from one end of said side and end walls andhingedly connected'theretma bag disposed within said carton, said bagincluding a narrow, elongated, flexible and iiattenable spouty portionfor filling and dispensing the contents of the bag, said bag beingdisposed within said carton'to locate the spout portion at said one end'thereof and adjacent a corner portion'thereof, the closure flapsextending-from one set of carton walls being foldable toward each otherand the closure flaps extending from the other set of carton walls beingfoldable toward each other and in their folded position overlying thefirst' mentioned closure flaps in their folded position, whereby one ofthe outermost folded flaps includes an end portion in overlappingrelation to an end portion of one of the innermost folded flaps, each ofsaid flap end portions including a iiap section displaceable from theplane of the flap end portion with which it is associated, each of saidflap sections being hingedly connected to a carton wall at said one endthereof, said flap sections overlying each other when said closure flapsare in'their folded, closed position, the innermost of said flapsections being formed with spaced slits to frictionally receive said bagspout in the attened condition thereof to seal said spout and to Vretainthe same in a determined position relative to said carton side and endwalls, the outermost ap section being hingedly displaceable while theclosure flap with which it is associated is in its folded, closedposition, to expose the underlying inner ap section, whereby said innerap section may be hingedly displaced while the closure flap with whichit is associated is in its folded, closed position, to raise the spoutportionengaged therewith and to allow the spout portion to be disengagedtherefrom for operative use. l

2. A container as in claim 1 wherein each of said flap sections isdefined by intersecting perforation lines extending respectively fromthe hinged connection thereof to the associated carton wall, andthe endedge of the iiap end portion, with which the flap section is associated.

' 3. A container as in 'claimI 1 and further including finger openingmeans in said iiap sections for manually displacing the respective ilap`sections fromtheir associated flapportions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i1,020,536- Byrne r Mar. 19, 2,002,485 AlfredV May 28,l 1935 2,151,202.Guyer '.l Mar. 21, 1939 2,339,156 vDavis Ian. 11, 1944 2,355,313v LurieAug. s, 1944 2,382,536 Baxter 1-1. Aug. 14, 1945 2,446,308 Smith Aug. 3,1948 3,100,587 Cox Aug. 13, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 542,963 YItaly Mar. 11,1956 1,248,546 France g Nov. 7, 196()

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A ONE PIECE CARTON HAVING OPPOSED SIDE WALLSAND OPPOSED END WALLS WITH CLOSURE FLAPS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING FROM ONEEND OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED THERETO, A BAGDISPOSED WITHIN SAID CARTON, SAID BAG INCLUDING A NARROW, ELONGATED,FLEXIBLE AND FLATTENABLE SPOUT PORTION FOR FILLING AND DISPENSING THECONTENTS OF THE BAG, SAID BAG BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CARTON TOLOCATE THE SPOUT PORTION AT SAID ONE END THEREOF AND ADJACENT A CORNERPORTION THEREOF, THE CLOSURE FLAPS EXTENDING FROM ONE SET OF CARTONWALLS BEING FOLDABLE TOWARD EACH OTHER AND THE CLOSURE FLAPS EXTENDINGFROM THE OTHER SET OF CARTON WALLS BEING FOLDABLE TOWARD EACH OTHER ANDIN THEIR FOLDED POSITION OVERLYING THE FIRST MENTIONED CLOSURE FLAPS INTHEIR FOLDED POSITION, WHEREBY ONE OF THE OUTERMOST FOLDED FLAPSINCLUDES AN END PORTION IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO AN END PORTION OF ONEOF THE INNERMOST FOLDED FLAPS, EACH OF SAID FLAP END PORTION INCLUDING AFLAP SECTION DISPLACEABLE FROM THE PLANE OF THE FLAP END PORTION WITHWHICH IT IS ASSOCIATED, EACH OF SAID FLAP SECTIONS BEING HINGEDLYCONNECTED TO A CARTON WALL AT SAID ONE END THEREOF, SAID FLAP SECTIONSOVERLYING EACH OTHER WHEN SAID CLOSURE FLAPS ARE IN THEIR FOLDED, CLOSEDPOSITION, THE INNERMOST OF SAID FLAP SECTIONS BEING FORMED WITH SPACEDSLITS FO FRICTIONALLY RECEIVE SAID BAG SPOUT IN THE FLATTENED CONDITIONTHEREOF TO SEAL SAID SPOUT AND TO RETAIN THE SAME IN A DETERMINEDPOSITION RELATIVE TO SAID CARTON SIDE AND END WALLS, THE OUTERMOST FLAPSECTION BEING HINGEDLY DISPLACEABLE WHILE THE CLOSURE FLAP WITH WHICH ITIS ASSOCIATED IS IN ITS FOLDED, CLOSED POSITION, TO EXPOSE THEUNDERLYING INNER FLAP SECTION, WHEREBY SAID INNER FLAP SECTION MAY BEHINGEDLY DISPLACED WHILE THE CLOSURE FLAP WITH WHICH IT IS ASSOCIATED ISIN ITS FOLDED, CLOSED POSITION, TO RAISE THE SPOUT PORTION ENGAGEDTHEREWITH AND TO ALLOW THE SPOUT PORTION TO BE DISENGAGED THEREFROM FOROPERATIVE USE.